There are only about 10 games left in the NHL season, depending on which team you are talking about. It’s pretty clear for some teams whether or not they will be in the postseason, For others, it’s not quite as easy to discern who will keep playing deep into the summer. I think, however, if we are willing to use a bit of logic, we an end all speculation as to who is going to claim those last spots.
Eastern Conference
There are really only 4 teams that are malleable for the Eastern conference. The two teams presently in, Washington and Ottawa, and the 9th and 10th teams, Boston and Florida. Washington has 88 points, and are closer to catching Pittsburgh for 3rd in the Metro than getting caught by two teams. Washington is very likely to be IN.
Ottawa has been white hot lately to storm into the playoff picture. They are 9-1 in their last 10, and have won their last 7. They also have a game in hand. Boston hasn’t been quite as good lately, or really, through the season, with Ottawa having a better goal differential by 19 goals. For what it’s worth, Florida’s is -21. So truly, Ottawa is the best team, and they seem like they should earn the last spot, but I’ve been watching sports long enough, and know enough about the NHL to know that they are going to get boned. Boston is going to be the 8th team in the playoffs.
Western Conference
This is a pretty tough to figure conference. Minnesota is sitting on 91 points, and are likely in. Winnipeg is sitting on 88 points, with Los Angeles trailing by two for the Wild Card. The real race is for the last 2 spots in the Pacific, however. I already noted that the Kings are on 86 points, but so too are the Flames, who are in the playoffs, and the Canucks are at 88. Just for fun, the Central’s Jets are also at 88 and in the second Wild Card spot.
So Minnesota is in. I think Vancouver probably is too, as they have a game in hand and a pair of mind controlling Swedish twins. This might not e a popular opinion, but I think both Calgary and Winnipeg make it. Every time I have doubted the Flames, they have turned it back on and keep up the charge. The Jets, frankly, are just playing good hockey lately, and since they already have pole position, I think they will hang on to their spot. The Kings have a target on their back as reigning champion, whereas teams might not be playing at full effort against the Flames or Jets. This isn’t a good statistical analysis, this is just a guess at what might happen in the wild variability of a small late season sample size.
So what do you think? Who is making the post season?
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
